The new pop-up exhibition “Inside The Lion King” is now up and running in Midtown, allowing theater fans to get a behind-the-scenes peek at one of Broadway’s biggest shows.

Exhibit – Inside the Lion King

Inside the Lion King, a pop-up exhibit in New York City

The exhibit opened on December 1 in New York City, at a space next to Bryant Park on 42nd Street. Titled “Inside the Lion King,” this free, pop-up exhibit will allow fans of the show to interact with 86 museum quality artifacts that have appeared in productions across the globe. These include masks, puppets and elaborate costumes, including a 13-foot elephant and a 17-foot ostrich. In addition, touch screens will provide fans with an opportunity to delve deeper into the show’s history and photo stations will allow visitors to take home images of themselves with props and other thematic representations of the show.

The creators say this is the first immersive, pop-up exhibit ever created for a Broadway show. The idea for the exhibit evolved over many years, as audience members frequently expressed interest in “getting a little bit closer” to the production, said Andrew Flatt, senior vice president for marketing at the Disney Theatrical Group. The show is celebrating its 15th anniversary on Broadway this year, so it seemed like the right time to do it, he said. “We considered backstage tours, but those are things you can’t do in volume,” Flatt said, noting that it is the first time a live event space was used in conjunction with a stage musical.

Exhibit will be on display at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue through December 16. Special weekend workshops will feature African music and dance, design, and storytelling. Visitors, for example, can create an original mask, or try their hand at playwriting.